Page 67 - Mind, Body and Spirit 2015-16

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Tug of war
Team, require a slightly altered approach to physical development than to 223 Signal Squadron who are more static on Operations. This involves constant communication between all Squadrons and supporting Brigades. A highlight for the ever diverse Regiment is the strong tness/sporting ethos whereby every soldier from Signaller to Commanding Of cer is expected to attend the weekly sports parade.
The sports parade gives the CO the opportunity to congratulate individual sporting achievements. This may be the completion of a course or the success of winning a competition/event. This week 12 soldiers successfully completed the spinning instructor course with Neil Troutman from Velocity Indoor Cycling. An enjoyably arduous course, who offers substantial military discount provided! The Regiment has always prided itself on entering teams in large scale tness/
Iremember laughing at what was then the TA back in the day and stating ‘how could you get out and do something like
that’ well now I know.....money! I left the RAPTC in Mar 15 and was lucky enough to get a job within the Civil Service as a SIOPT at Bordon. I enjoyed the year I spent there but my ears pricked when WO2 (QMSI) Nelly Nelson (my boss) said ‘Uno, have you seen what they are offering you to join back up in one of the new RAPTC PIDs’. A couple of phone calls later I nd this unit in Wrexham that’s just four miles from my house. I knew I would have to go back to the ASPT to
Tyre ip
sporting events; more recently through speci c training we won the prestigious Lanyard Competition. Our focus for the coming months is athletics, ready for the upcoming season.
With the Regiments standing in South Wales and St David’s Day on the 1st March, the soldiers pinned leeks to their berets to celebrate the occasion. With leeks and daffodils in every corner that could be seen, it was only proper that the Patron Saint of Wales be celebrated in true fashion with a physically arduous competition. The opening scene saw a musical warm-up to Tom Jones’s ‘Sex Bomb’ involving squats, burpees and backside wiggling (backside wiggling is not directed within AGAI Vol 1 Chp 7 and was carried out at soldiers own risk), with some soldiers actually resembling the backup dancers for the main man himself! This was followed with an Inter Squadron tness competition, a separate tug-o-
101 BN REME
WO2 (QMSI) P FORD RAPTC
do a Reserve Selection however was shocked to nd out that I would be on a normal RAPTC Selection Course and that I would have to pass all tests in order to be re-badged back in. I can honestly say I was not too fazed as I keep myself in shape however on the day I realised how old I was compared to the rest. One candidate said at the start line ‘I will keep in front of you or it will look bad’. How I loved showing him a clean set of heels. I did us old and bold proud and got one of the highest scores on the day...... always had it, still got it.
Bent over row
Obstacle course
war competition and an obstacle course challenge. The challenging event focussed not only on the key characteristics of the Army Leadership Code, but offered itself as a means of showing all soldiers and the local community, the strong heritage of the Unit and extensive ties it has within Wales.
I arrived at 101 Bn not really knowing what to expect, it goes without saying there are a fair few things that are not in place but on the whole I was pleasantly surprised. The majority of the staff I work with are Regular Soldiers and the Training Major is completely ‘on side’ with all PD matters and has given me full support. The Unit is split over ve separate locations so it will take a little time to implement all changes and more importantly change the mind- set towards PT of the many.